Related Links

LA JOLLA, Calif. - The second-ranked UC San Diego softball team picked up its first pair of conference wins with an 8-0, 8-2 sweep of Cal State San Bernardino at Triton Softball Field Wednesday afternoon.

The victories moved UCSD to 5-1 overall and 2-0 in CCAA play. Cal State San Bernardino is 1-3 on the season and 0-2 in the CCAA.

The Tritons banged out a total of 18 hits on the day, eight in the first game and 10 more in the nightcap.

"Lots of offense to see today, it was fun to watch them really get the sticks going," said UCSD head coach Patti Gerckens.

Game OneMichelle Escamilla (1-1) earned her first win of the season, tossing five scoreless innings with three strikeouts as the Tritons earned the 8-0 run rule victory in the first game.

"Michelle had a great day," said Gerckens. "She was in control of her pitches and, as a senior, she's starting to relax a little on the mound and be more confident."

UCSD wasted no time plating the eventual game-winning run when Taylor Sepulveda singled and wound up scoring from third on a double steal attempt in the first inning.

The Tritons tacked on four more runs in the bottom of the second as Monique Portugal and Callie Grant each had RBI singles. UCSD also capitalized on a throwing error by the Coyote infield.

The third inning featured more potent offense from the Tritons as Caitlin Brown drew a leadoff walk and Mya Romero followed with a two-run home run to left-center, putting UCSD up by a score of 7-0. It was Romero's second round-tripper of the season.

A fifth inning RBI double down the left field line by Portugal that scored Kirsten Willmon accounted for the final score.

Starter Kaitlyn Randall (0-2) suffered the loss for CSUSB, surrendering five runs on five hits in just 1.1 innings.

Game TwoUCSD got on it early once again in the second game, bringing in six runs in the opening inning. Grant, Sepulveda and Nicole Spangler started the barrage with back-to-back-to-back singles. Brown then ripped a two-run double to right to open the scoring. Following a Romero walk to load the bases once again, Katie Saunders doubled to right-center, knocking in three more runs. Saunders later crossed the plate on a wild pitch.

The Coyotes tallied their first run of the afternoon in the top of the second when Alyssa Flores homered to left-center. They picked up their second run in the sixth as leadoff hitter Charlotte Galzote tripled and scored on a ground out by Jacqueline Lopez.

Romero figured in the scoring yet again in the Tritons' half of the sixth. With one out and the bases loaded, her sacrifice fly scored Grant, giving UCSD a 7-2 lead. The next at-bat saw Amani Proctor single to left, driving in Sepulveda, who finished the game with three hits.

Kayla Hensel earned the complete game victory, improving to 4-0 on the young season. She gave up seven hits and struck out four batters.

For the Coyotes, starter Kacey Cota (0-1) let in the first four runs of the game and did not record an out before being replaced.

"We're hitting the ball hard, putting bunts down and running the bases," said Gerckens. "Right now, offensively, I'm very happy with how we're doing."

The four-game series with Cal State San Bernardino continues on Saturday, Feb. 9 at Triton Softball Field with another doubleheader. The first game is slated for a noon start.